Centre Wellington Township council and a group of residents from South River Road along the Grand River appeared to reach an amiable compromise last week over the rebuilding of that stretch of road, and it was a rare demonstration of how democracy can work when people are reasonable and willing to work together towards the betterment of their community.
When the township announced that it had received a sudden infrastructure grant of $875,000 and would repave the road, using that cash and topping it up with slots cash to complete the project, nearly everyone seemed pleased. For council it was a chance to spend money on a very visible and much needed project. The road has been a mess for many years, and the recent rough winter made it even worse. It is filled with potholes and cracks beside its numerous patches.
But then some residents started writing letters to this Newspaper and contacting councillors, demanding bicycle lanes and lower speed limits as, one writer said, “a minimum.” Those demands worried us because we have listened many times over the years about the difficulties of bringing that road up to modern standards. We feared acrimony, bickering, and complaints because, frankly, we strongly suspected all along the cost to do all the residents wanted to accomplish would be too high. That was finally borne out by Triton Engineering’s road study presented at council.
Happily, as resident Peter Quinn said at the end of that council meeting on Friday morning, “I think everybody on South River Road is reasonable.” Other residents, too, seemed agreeable to the compromise council proposed. Burna Wilton offered council her “heartfelt thanks” for its study and decision, and another person, Chris Jess, wrote a letter that is published this week stating he, too, is satisfied with council’s proposals.
Council’s report clearly demonstrated that it will be too costly to install bike lanes, and instead of screaming about conspiracy theories, residents accepted those limitations. Thankfully, they also recognized that council does not have unlimited amounts of cash to spend on just one road.
Councillors also were reasonable and seemed willing to compromise. They agreed that while bicycle lanes are impossible under the current financial constraints, there are problems with the road. They agreed to pave the shoulders, which will make the road somewhat safer for cyclists and pedestrians. They also agreed to spend $71,000 more, if necessary, in order to make those accommodations.
Both parties agreed to wait until the road is finished, which includes the installation of two speed signs, before dealing with the speed limit.
The residents still want lower limits, and some councillors, by their questions and comments, sympathize with them. That can still be considered, and, in the meantime, council can speak with police about heavier enforcement on that road. Perhaps moving OPP Constable Steve Hunter from County Road 46 will help. While councillor Fred Morris doubts there will ever be a Speeder of the Week on South River Road, Hunter has been setting records for handing out that dubious honour, and all because residents on County Road 46 asked for more enforcement against speeding.
Until the road is rebuilt, the issue will rest for now. But the process was a good example of reasonable people reaching some good decisions, instead of partisan bickering and fighting we seem to constantly see at too many levels of government these days.
David Meyer
